Subject: Human Rights Campaign Endorses Cortez Masto, Cite Congressman Heck’s and Sharron Angle’s Anti-LGBT Records
From: Sarah Zukowski <[email-masked]>
To: Sarah Zukowski <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 4 May 2016 13:00:41 -0700

For Immediate Release

May 4, 2016

Contact: Sarah Zukowski, [email-masked]

Human Rights Campaign Endorses Cortez Masto, Cite Congressman Heck’s and
Sharron Angle’s Anti-LGBT Records

Las Vegas, NV – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorsed former
Nevada Attorney General and candidate for U.S. Senate Catherine Cortez
Masto, highlighting her record as a bipartisan problem solver and advocate
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Cortez Masto’s
commitment to fighting for equal rights and protections as a U.S. Senator
stands in sharp contrast to her Republican opponents’, Congressman Heck and
Sharron Angle, who both oppose marriage equality, basic protections for
LGBT workers, and initiatives to combat LGBT student bullying in schools.

“Congressman Heck and Sharron Angle’s opposition to providing commonsense,
equal protections and benefits to all Nevadans, regardless of their sexual
orientation, is yet another example of how out of touch they are with
Nevadans,” said Sarah Zukowski, spokesperson for the Nevada State
Democratic Party. “We need leaders like Catherine Cortez Masto who will
fight to protect children against bullying and safeguard workers from
discrimination, not extreme Republicans like Congressman Heck and Sharron
Angle whose partisan agenda only hurts Nevadans.”

Background:

Heck: “That Marriage Is A Sacred Vow Between A Man And A Woman. That’s Joe
Heck’s View.”  In July 2015 interview Heck said, “My faith and upbringing
taught me that marriage is a sacred vow between a man and a woman. That’s
Joe Heck’s view. The Supreme Court has ruled and whether I agree or
disagree with their ruling, as the highest court in the land, that is the
law. So I believe that everyone should have dignity, respect, and equal
protection under the law.” [KVVU, 7/6/15
<https://vantageuploader.dnc.org/shared_show?jwt=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpYXQiOjE0MzY0NTkxOTIsImVtYWlsIjoiYmVuLmFsYnJpZ2h0MDdAZ21haWwuY29tIiwiaWQiOiIzMzU0MSJ9.V_rx6GGI09mp_U-eV6IsvfMgIdwgQboQaCVSNhcuHh8>
]

Heck Voted Against Amendment To Protect LGBT Students From Bullying In
Student Success Act. In February 2015, Heck voted to kill anti-bullying
amendment: “A Republican-controlled House committee prohibited a vote
Wednesday on the inclusion of non-discrimination protections for LGBT
students as part of an education reform bill. During a committee markup of
the Student Success Act, the Education & the Workforce Committee voted on a
strictly party-line vote of 21-15 to table an amendment along the lines of
the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The proposal was submitted by Rep.
Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who’s gay and a co-chair of the LGBT Equality
Caucus. […] Modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the
Student Non-Discrimination Act would prohibit public schools from
discriminating against any student based on actual or perceived sexual
orientation or gender identity, including by allowing bullying against
them.” The committee voted 21-15 to table the measure, with Rep. Joe Heck
voting in favor. [Washington Blade, 2/11/15
<http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/02/11/house-panel-blocks-vote-lgbt-inclusion-education-bill/>;
H.R. 5, Amdt. 24, 2/11/15
<http://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/rc_1_foxx_motion.pdf>]

Angle Voted Against Ending Employment Discrimination Based On Sexual
Orientation; Eagle Forum Called Bill Part Of World Expansion Of Homosexual
Influence. In 1999, Angle opposed AB 311, which prohibited employers from
discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the bill -- introduced by
Assemblyman David Parks -- was, “blasted by conservative groups who say
Park's legislation is an inappropriate expansion of gay rights. One, the
Nevada Eagle Forum, termed the measure part of the ‘world expansion of
homosexual influence.’” [AB 311, 4/1/99
<http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/70th1999/Reports/history.cfm?ID=2459>;
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 4/2/99]

Angle Voted Against Allowing Nevada Equal Rights Commission To Investigate
Discrimination Based On Sexual Orientation. During the 2005 special
session, Angle opposed AB 5, which authorized the Nevada Equal Rights
Commission to investigate complaints about discrimination in housing based
on sexual orientation. [AB 5, 6/7/05
<http://www.leg.state.nv.us/22ndSpecial/Reports/history.cfm?ID=2550>]

###